Bio

Branislav Ivanović was born in Sremska Mitrovica, SFR Yugoslavia on 22 February 1984. A versatile defender, he is able to play as either a centre back or a right back and is known for his reading of the game, tackling and aerial ability.

Ivanović began his professional career in Serbia, playing for FK Remont and FK Srem, before moving to OFK Beograd in 2003. During his time at OFK Beograd, he received praise for his performances and caught the attention of the national team manager, earning his first cap in 2005. In January 2006, he completed a move to Russia, where he joined Lokomotiv Moscow.

Over the course of the 2006 season, Ivanović made a significant contribution, playing 28 league matches and helping the team to mount a serious title challenge. The following year, he continued to be a regular member of the team and picked up his first major honour as a player, the 2007 Russian Cup. Throughout his time in Russia, Ivanović had been linked with various major European clubs, including AC Milan, Inter and Juventus. However, in the 2008 January transfer window, he moved to Chelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of €13 million.

Ivanović did not feature for Chelsea during the 2007-08 season, eventually making his debut during a League Cup match in September 2008. He failed to find consistent playing time under the management of Luiz Felipe Scolari and Guus Hiddink, but became a more regular fixture in the team during Carlo Ancelotti's reign, helping the team to win the Premier League and FA Cup in 2009–10. In the years that followed, Ivanović demonstrated great versatility, playing at both right full back and centre back and receiving nominations for Chelsea Player of the Year for the 2010–11 and 2011-12 campaigns. The 2011-12 season saw Ivanović contribute towards Chelsea winning the Champions League, although he missed the final. At the end of the 2012-13 season, Ivanović helped Chelsea to win the UEFA Europa League, scoring the winning goal in the final. He was subsequently named as the Man of the Match.

Since making his first appearance in 2005, Ivanović has become a key player for Serbia and was named as captain in 2011. In both 2012 and 2013, he was voted as the Serbian Player of the Year, becoming the first player to win the award in consecutive years.

Branislav Ivanovic will not be punished for his altercation with James McCarthy at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, but Chelsea and Everton have been charged with failing to control their players in the Premier League encounter... Read more